Festival promises late winter sparkle
Nelson’s narrow thoroughfares are soon to get a broader appreciation, with the start of the Four Lanes Festival just over a fortnight away.
Using four linked precincts designed to celebrate the themes of culture, retail, hospitality and art, the initiative is being led by Nelson City Council in conjunction with Uniquely Nelson.
The festival on Saturday, August 31 is being promoted as ‘‘a little late-winter sparkle of surprise and delight, hidden gems and family favourites’’.
A noodle market at Kirby Lane is expected to fill the open-air space connecting New St and Bridge St, while public art creations and wall projections will feature at nearby Fiddle Lane.
The Old Bank Reserve laneway linking Hardy St with Buxton Square will be transformed into a live performance space, including circus acts and kapa haka.
Morrison Square, between Hardy St and Selwyn Place, will become a Latin Quarter of dancing, live music and themed food.
Council city centre development programme lead Alan Gray said most of the entertainment would be free, to make it as inclusive as possible.
‘‘We would like to really make this a regular event as part of council’s aim to keep the central city vibrant in the colder months. We have timed this new event to complement Light Nelson on the social calendar.’’
The festival will begin at 3pm, but Gray said it was hoped people would stay in town to enjoy the full programme and have something to eat.
‘‘The entertainment will change throughout the afternoon and evening, so it’s not necessarily a single walk-through.
‘‘The hot air balloon, for example, tethered beside the Ferris wheel in Buxton Square carpark will look quite magical after dark.’’
Council community services committee chair Gaile Noonan said part of the thinking behind the concept was to have engaging activities happening in less traditional parts of the city.
‘‘Trafalgar St, by its nature of being our main street, does get the bulk of the action. We’re wanting to give people an experiential sensation in the heart of Nelson city that’s a little bit different to existing events – shifts the energy around a little. The Four Lanes Festival is going to do just that!’’
Uniquely Nelson’s Simon Duffy said Four Lanes was a welcome addition to the city’s festival calendar, alongside October’s Nelson Arts Festival, while the second Classic Car Street Hop on November 3 was expected to bring 10,000 people into the city centre.
For more information about the festival, visit nelsonadvantage.co.nz.